Erie's Coal Creek Park could soon receive a facelift, but the proposed redevelopment is merely a stepping stone to revitalizing Historic Downtown Erie.

Erie residents gathered earlier this week to hear a presentation made by Denver-based DHM Design for the redevelopment of Coal Creek Park, located at the eastern edge of Downtown Erie off Kattell Street.

Consultants shared three redevelopment concepts at an open house Wednesday night, March 27, to garner public opinion that town staff will present to the Erie Board of Trustees during its Tuesday, April 9, meeting.

Fred Diehl, assistant to the town administrator, on Thursday, March 28, said the park's redevelopment is meant to provide a desirable destination for residents and also to provide downtown businesses with more visibility.

"The overall interest is reinvigorating Historic Downtown," he said.

In February, the board approved the contract with DHM Design after trustees, during a January study session, discussed revitalizing downtown.

Diehl emphasized that Coal Creek Park is simply one piece of the revitalization effort.

The project is meant to increase traffic downtown, bringing more people to the park and, in turn, more customers to existing retailers with hopes of bringing in new businesses "to build a thriving economy where it currently could use a boost," Diehl said.

The redevelopment concepts include a variety of park elements with variations of a large performance area and events plaza, playground, art garden, event green/ice skating rink, a splash pad, shade shelters, picnic grove and north and south parking lots with a potential capacity of 148 cars, depending on the plan.

Diehl said staff received about 50 surveys from people who attended the public meeting, but more than 50 came to view the plans and listen to the presentation.

The survey asked residents if they had visited Coal Creek Park and what brought them there and other questions, such as what park elements are most important to them.

Residents also were presented with three aesthetic options — natural, historic and contemporary — that would be incorporated throughout the park.

For example, if Coal Creek Park includes playground equipment, it could have a contemporary feel with bright colors and popular metal play pieces, such as a jungle gym and swings, or a more natural feel with grass instead of a rubber surface and equipment that employs boulders for climbing.

The data from the surveys has not been compiled yet, so it is unclear what residents want the park to look like.

Coal Creek Park was built in the mid-1980s —Diehl's best guess was it was constructed around 1986 or 1987 — and includes ball fields, a small skatepark, small parking areas and an outdated concession stand.

The playground equipment on the south end of the park was removed earlier this year because it, too, was outdated, Diehl said.

Erie resident Adam Gerwyg, 21, throws the ball to his brother Trevor Gerwyg, 15, at Coal Creek Park on Thursday, March 28. In the background, kids play near the skatepark. The Town of Erie contracted with Denver-based DHM Design to create redevelopment concepts to revamp the park as part of an effort to revitalize Historic Downtown Erie. (Kimberli Turner / Colorado Hometown Weekly)

On Thursday, several children, adults and dogs enjoyed the sunny day at the park, including Kevin Smith.

The 15-year Erie resident tested out his paraglider, and said he visits the park often with his dogs.

He said he doesn't have kids and doesn't use other town amenities, and would love to see the town consider a dog park in its plans.

"I'd love to see them make it a dog off-leash park," he said.

Brothers Adam Gerwyg, 21, and Trevor Gerwyg, 15, also were at the park Thursday throwing around a baseball. They were raised in Old Town Erie and said they come to the park at least once a week.

While Adam thought a contemporary look might attract more families and kids to the park, Trevor said he would like to see Erie stick with its small-town roots and employ a historic feel in the redevelopment.

They didn't attend the public meeting, but thought revamping the park could help draw more people downtown.

"Since they built the (Erie Community Center), it's been pulling everything from here up there," Adam said.

DHM Design will ask trustees to narrow down the redevelopment concepts to create one design that is slated for approval in May.

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